Rotary water-meter



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-$11691: 1.

P. BALL.

ROTARY WATER METER.

No. 386,795. Patented July 31, 1888.

\A/[TA/EEEEE- J NR/EN U N FETERs, Pnowumn n nu. wumnmm D C (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

P. BALL.

ROTARY WATER METER.

No. 386,795. 8 Patented July 31, 1888.

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MAW-M55555 NvrA/TU UNITED STATES PATENT FFIQE.

PHINEHAS BALL, OF \VORGESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROTARY WATER-M ETER.

$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,795, dated July 31, 1888.

' Application filed June 14, 1887. Serial No. 241,302. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHINEHAS BALL, acitizen of the United States, residing at \Vorces ter, in the county of XVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary \Vater-Meters, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification snfficiently full, clear, and exact to enable persons skilled in the art to which. this invention appertains to make and use the same.

In rotary water-meters of the class herein referred to as heretofore constructed the horizontally-rotating pistons have been suspended and supported from the top end of an upright stationary pintle or post by means of a plain flat plate or cap screwed to the top end or hub of the piston and disposed to take bearing and to turn upon the top end surface of the pintle or center post, thus bringing the wear and friction onto these adjacent bearing-surfaces. By continued use the bearingsurfaces become worn, so that the pistons drop below their proper position and drag upon the bottom of the casing or shell, thereby retarding or stopping their movement and causing derangement in the proper metering of the fluid or water passing through. To effect repairs in this respect it has been necessary and customary to remove the bearing plate or cap and file off its under surface, and, in case of the post having worn down, to file off the end of the hub of the piston until readjustment was attained. This is a work requiring such a de gree of nicety that the owners or users of the meters have been induced to send the meters back to the manufactory rather than attempt to make the adjustment by the aid of ordinary mechanics, this being frcqnently a matter of considerable expense, inconvenience, and delay.

The object of my present invention is to obviate this objection and to provide means whereby adjustment of the pistons can be effected, with the requisite degree of nicety, without the necessity of filing off any of the parts, and in a way that will be convenient, accurate, and substantial.

My invention consists in the combination, with the rotary water-meter piston fitted to run close between the top and bottom surfaces within the casing and the stationary post or pintle whereon said piston is suspended, ot a removable cap-plate carrying abearing-piece of hard metal provided with screw-threads for effecting adjustment to support the piston in proper relation to the casing, and means for binding the screw-threads,so that theparts cannot become displaced by jar or friction in the operation of the meter, as hereinafter more fully described, the particular subject-matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a rotary meter,i1lustrating my invention, the top portion ofthe meter being removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the centers of the pistons and their supporting parts. Fig.3 is a par t plan and part sectional view ofthe supportingcap and adjusting devices. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the piston sup porting and adjusting devices. Figs. 5, 6, 7. 8, 9, and 10 are central vertical sectional views showing modi fications ofsupporting and adjusting devices, in combination with a rotary metenpiston; and Figs. 5, 6, 7", 8, 9, and 10 are plan views of the same, respect ively corresponding to the several sectional views according to number.

In referring to parts, A denotes the shell or casing of the meter.

13 B indicate the rotating pistons, G O the upright pintles or posts fixed in the bottom of the casing, whercon the pistons are supported, and D the gears intermeshing from one piston to the other, so that they will rotate in unison. Said parts may be constructed and arranged in the ordinary well-known manner as heretofore employed in this class of meters, as may also the registering devices (not shown) and the means for imparting movement thereto through the geared shaft (1, and consequently said parts need. not be herein more particularly described.

F indicates the suspending cap or plate secured to the top end or hub of the piston B by means of the screws f, so that said cap can be readily taken off and replaced with the aid of a screw-driver, first,0f course, removing the top casing, A, of the meter.

I indicates a stud or bearing-piece having a wearing-surface that turns on the end surface of the pintle or post 0, and which is preferably formed of some hard metal that will resist rapid wear of the bearingsurfaccs. Said bear- ICO ing-piece is fitted with screwthreads, by means of which it can be adjusted for sustaining the piston at slightly greater or less height in relation to the top end surface of the post 0 and the casing A.

Combined with the adjustable bearing-stud, I employ a cramp device for binding upon the threads and securing the bearing-stud at position of adjustment, so as to prevent it from working out of place by jar or friction when the meter is in operation. Said cramp is preferably constructed substantially as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. A tapped or threaded hole is formed through the cap F, meeting the stud I. In this hole is a loose block, m, having on its end sections of screwthread that match the threads on the stud I and fit against the side thereof. while behind said block is a binding screw, J, which can be turned in or out for imparting or relieving the pressure on the threads of the bearingpiece. When screw J is turned in, the bearing-piece or stud I will be held fast by the binding action of the partm againstits threads, and when said screw J is loosened the bearingpiece or stud will be'freed sufficiently for its convenient adjustment. By means of this mechanism the piston of the rotary meter can be very easily and accurately adjusted, and any future adjustment for taking up the wear can be made by any ordinary mechanic or person simply and conveniently, and, if desired, without detaching the meter from the supplypipes.

Figs. 5 and 5 show a modified construction wherein the adj ustable bearing-piece I is made with a broad flat head, the threads in this instance being cramped by means of bindingscrews J arranged to draw down the edges of said head.

Figs. 6 and 6 show a modified construction wherein the adjustable bearing-piece I is made with a flanged head, and the bindingscrews J are arranged through the flange to press against the end of the hub ofthe piston.

In both of the above modifications thebearing-piece is connected by being screwed into the end of the hub of the piston B.

Figs. 7 and 7 show the bearing'piece I made as a disk connected by screws f that pass through plain holes in the disk, and the binding is effected by screws J that are fitted to threaded openings in the disk and press against the end of the hub of the piston B.

Figs. 8 and 8 show a modification wherein the bearing'piece 1 is provided with a yielding bar, 2', connected to and extending across it and its periphery screw-threaded, with corresponding threads on the ends of the bar. in this-the bindingscrews J are arranged through the bar and toscrewinto the body of the piece, and the binding is effected by turning down said screws, so as to spring down the ends of head is fitted with screw-threads to an annular cap, F. The cap may be provided with a screw, f", for retaining it in position, or, if preferred, said screw could be omitted. In this construction the binding may be produced by differential action of the upper and lower threads.

Figs. 10 and 10f show a modification wherein the plate F is vertically slit at one side and provided with ears or projections E. The binding-screw J is arranged horizontally through said ears for drawing the two sides of the slit together, and thus cramping the part upon the threads of the stud or bearingpiece 1 What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a liquid-meter having the rotary pistons B suspended upon uprightstationary pinties and fitted to work closely between the top and bottom surfaces within the casing, the combination, with the rotary piston, 1ts pintie, and inclosing-casing, of a removable capplate,in connection with the hub of the piston,

- carrying a bearing-piece provided with screwthreads for effecting adjustment of the piston up or down in relation to the inclosing-caslng,

and means, substantially as described, for

PHINEHAS BALL.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, ELLA P. BLENUS. 

